A centuries-old herbal extract is the basis for the latest drug of concern for authorities in Alabama and across the country.
Kratom is obtained from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. In its natural form, the leaves can be chewed or swallowed; dried and powdered and ingested as tea; or used to make an extract that is then added to other substances. In this way, it has served the area as a natural energy supplement and pain remedy for hundreds of years.
Unfortunately, gas stations, vape shops, and other retail outlets are being flooded with semi-synthetic and synthetic, highly-concentrated kratom products that are often far more dangerous than the plant in its natural form. These products, which are often fitted with incomplete or misleading information on their labels, are readily available for use and abuse by consumers.
Kratom products are often packaged as energy boosters, mood lifters, pain relievers --- even as remedies for opioid withdrawal. These products typically come in the form of a tablet, capsule, or extract, and are marketed on the basis that they take effect in minutes, with said effects lasting for hours. Depending on the dose, kratom can act as a stimulant (low doses increase alertness and energy) or a sedative (high doses reduce pain and elevate feelings of calmness).
Kratom use comes with a variety of possible side effects, including:
Depending on the amount and frequency of use, side effects of kratom can also include seizures, hallucinations, psychotic symptoms, and physical and mental dependence. Babies exposed to kratom during their mother's pregnancy may be born with symptoms of withdrawal which require treatment.
Some kratom products have been found to contain heavy metals and even germs such as salmonella. To date, 35 kratom-related deaths have been linked to salmonella poisoning.
While tests have shown that kratom can react with other medicines, which could lead to liver damage and death, more research is needed in this area.
According to a CDC report, U.S. poison centers documented over 14,000 kratom exposures between 2015 and 2025. Of those exposures, 3,434 were reported in 2025, representing a 1,200 percent increase over the 258 exposures report in 2015. During this same time period, 233 kratom-associated deaths were reported; of those deaths, 79 percent involved multiple substances.
In Alabama, calls are similarly increasing. In 2024, the Alabama Poison Information Center (APIC) received 8 calls related to kratom, compared with 52 calls received so far in 2026, representing a 550 percent increase in just two years. While the overall call volume may appear relatively low, the sharp increase over a short period highlights the growing accessibility and potential risks associated with these products. Approximately 50 percent of the kratom cases managed by APIC in 2026 have resulted in a moderate medical outcome, generally meaning the patient experienced significant clinical effects requiring medical evaluation or intervention, but without life-threatening effects or permanent disability.
Kratom has been banned in Alabama since 2016. In 2026, the Alabama Attorney General issued a statewide cease-and-desist order directed at all retailers, including gas stations and smoke shops, regarding availability of kratom products. Alabama's ban includes:
Alabama's ban extends to any products, including tablets, shots, drink mixes, gummies, etc., containing kratom, including those that do not indicate the presence of kratom on the label.
Kratom is not currently listed under the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Controlled Substances Act, which classifies drugs based on factors including acceptable medical use and abuse or dependency potential. However, the DEA has listed kratom as a "drug of concern."
In August of 2026 the DEA classified three semisynthetic kratom-related compounds as Schedule I substances on an emergency basis for two years. This classification makes it a federal crime to manufacture, sell, or possess these particular substances.
To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved kratom for any medical use, and considers it as "not lawfully marketed in the U.S. as a drug product, dietary supplement, or a food additive in conventional food."